A jury found Kurt Miller guilty of negligent homicide in the death of his live-in girlfriend, Laura Coates, nearly six years ago on Friday afternoon.

The jury went into deliberation around 3:15 pm and came out around 4:40 pm. Coates’ family says this a day they have been waiting on for six years. Friday afternoon, Coates’ daughter in law, April Martin said she was hoping for a second degree murder conviction, but is at peace with what was handed down.

“I’m glad after six years we finally got some kind of justice out of it,” said Martin. “Maybe now people will be more aware of their surroundings and people of who they’re with.””

Martin says December 19th, 2009 is a day she will never forget. Miller claims that Coates over-dosed that day, but an investigation revealed there were traumatic injuries to Coates’ body.

Coates’ daughter, Brittany, says it was an emotional day listening to the closing arguments and the final verdict.

“I’ll never be able to move on,” said Brittany Coates. “I mean, she will always be in my heart, she will always be on my shoulder…”

After hearing the verdict Friday afternoon, Coates’ family released balloons in her memory.

“Let them fly today,” said Brittany Coates. “Because today she gets to fly high.”

Miller’s sentencing hearing is set for April 9th and he is currently out on bond.